Ice man stole guns, violin stand, portable massage table

An ice user stole guns, ammunition, a violin stand and a portable massage table after breaking into a house at Castra.

Stephen Thomas Heath stole other items, including a clock, jewellery, jewellery boxes, binoculars, a toolbox, knives, a replica sword, clothes, power tools, chainsaws, watches, a mobile phone, a wallet and food, the Supreme Court, in Burnie, was told on Friday.

The four stolen guns were a double barrelled shotgun, two single barrelled shotguns and a rifle.

The court heard Heath had intended to sell the items to get drug money, or exchange them for drugs.

The Supreme Court, Burnie.

Heath pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, one count of aggravated burglary, two counts of stealing and four counts of stealing a firearm or firearm part.

Crown prosecutor Allison Shand told Justice Michael Brett Heath and another person drove past a property in the Castra area on June 9 and noticed nobody appeared to be home.

He told them it was obvious there was nobody home.

Prosecutor Allison Shand

She said they stopped in the driveway, stole goods from a shed and left.

They found a large amount of ammunition in a stolen toolbox, Ms Shand said, and realised there were likely to be guns in the house.

They forced their way into the house, Ms Shand said, and searched it, breaking into a safe which contained four guns.

Ms Shand said the items stolen were valued at $28,219 and none had been recovered.

There was also about $15,000 worth of damage to the house.

Heath cut his hand and it bled, Ms Shand said.

DNA from the blood was found to match Heath.

Ms Shand said he was in custody in Launceston on other matters in July when police interviewed him about the Castra crimes.

“He told them it was obvious there was nobody home,” Ms Shand said.

Julia Ker, for Heath, said her client accepted he had a problem with drugs and wanted to rehabilitate.

Heath had some prospect of rehabilitation, Ms Ker told Justice Brett.

Justice Brett remanded Heath in custody until October 20 for sentencing.